Fibre treatment

ABSTRACT

Natural and artificial fibres are treated with a setting, shrink-resisting or embossing chemical, said chemical being in a liquid medium, by application of the liquid medium to the fibre in a ratio of between 0.5 to 1.0 and 3.0 to 1.0 liquid medium to fibre, weight for weight. The fibre, which is preferably in fabric form, is then pressed for not more than 30 minutes.

United States Patent Smith et al. July 1, 1975 [54] FIBRE TREATMENT 3,510,452 2/1970 Frotscher 117/1395 A 3,523,033 1970 V b t 1.... 117 6 .2 1 lnvemorSI Geofffey Alla" smith Lymon 3,561,998 2/1971 117/622 Damwk, Melrose; Rlchard Youflg, 3,563,794 2/1971 Moriga.... 117/1395 A 31 Craig Park Gardens, Galashlels. 3,655,437 4/1972 Becker 117/1395 A both of Scotland [22] Filed; Sept 20, 1972 Primary Examiner-Wi1liam D. Martin Assistant ExaminerJanyce A. Bell 1 1 p N01 290,747 Attorney, Agent, 0r Firm-Fidelman, Wolffe & Leitner [52] US. Cl. 427/352; 8/115.6; 427/353 57 S CT [51] Int. Cl. B44d 1/44 j 581 Field 01 Search 117/652, 115.6, 139.5 A. NaYHYaI fibre? are i "F a f shrink-reslstmg or embossing chemlcal, sa1d chemical 1 17/140 bemg in a hquld med1um, by appllcatlon of the liquid dium to the fibre in a ratio of between 0.5 to 1.0 [56] References Cited me and 3.0 to 1.0 llquld med1um t0 fibre, weight for UNITED STATES PATENTS weight. The fibre, which is preferably in fabric form, is

then pressed for not more than 30 minutes. y an 3;483,024 12/1969 Roff 117/652 7 Claims, N0 Drawings FIBRE TREATMENT This invention relates to the treatment of natural and artificial fibres, more particularly in garment form in setting, shrink-resisting and embossing processes.

Present known methods of treating both natural and artificial fibres with either immediate contact or padded medium techniques, comprise the application of chemical to fabric using a liquid to fibre ratio (wt. to wt.) of the order of or 30 to l.

The present invention involves treatment of such fibres using short liquid to fibre ratios. or liquor ratios, which are of the order of 0.5 or 3 to 1. When a chemical, dyestuff, finishing agent or indeed any substance is applied to fibre which is in any form, but in particular in fabric or garment form, the rate of action between chemical and fibre is increased if a short liquid to fibre ratio (liquor ratio) is used.

Thus, by application of short liquid to fibre ratios in the treatment of fibres, production time and subse quently costs are lowered.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of setting, shrink-resisting or embossing fibre comprising:

applying to the fibre a chemical which is in a liquid medium. the chemical being for setting, shrink-resisting or embossing, said liquid medium contained in a bath at a temperature between and 45C.

adjusting the quantity of liquid on the fibre until the ratio of liquid to fibre is between 0.5 to l and 3 to 1 weight for weight; and

pressing the fibre for not more than minutes.

Preferably the fibre is pressed for not more than 30 minutes at a pressure of between 3 lbs. per square inch. and 100 lb. per square inch.

Said liquid to fibre ratios. known as short liquor ratios are used for the treatment of both natural and artificial fibres.

Short liquid ratios used with an immediate contact technique for fabric treatments such as, setting, embossing, or shrink-resisting on natural and artificial fibres requires that chemicals should be placed directly where required.

Furthermore short liquor ratios are also used with the so-called padded medium technique for the treatment of natural fibres. Padding out a fabric of natural fibres is performed through a media of viscous liquid which enables the fabric to contain twice or three times the fabric weight of solution without shedding surplus solution by normal solution flow.

Specific examples of fibre treatment using liquid to fibre ratios (wt. for wt.) between 0.5 to l and 3 to I will now be given, by way of example.

EXAMPLE I For embossing lambswool shrink-resisting fibre in fabric form with the padded medium technique:

A fabric is embossed using a liquid comprising sodium hydrogen sulphite, sodium tetraborate and a polymer such as that under the Trade Names Hercosett 57 or Synthappret L.K.F. which is retained on the fabric by a viscous liquid comprising a binder or additive. Hercosett 57 is a cationic fiber reactive aqueous solution of a polyamide epichlorhydrin resin and Synthappret L.K.F. is a prepolymer of an aliphatic polyurethane containing free isocyanate groups. The binder Sodium Hydrosulphite Sodium Tetraborate Hercosctt 57" including 10% solids l0 grammes/litre 5 grammes/litre 20 c.c./litre The quantity of liquid in the bath is such that the ratio of liquid to fabric is about 12 to I. This is the so-called wetting out liquor ratio.

The fabric is immersed in the liquid in the bath for two minutes and then removed through squeeze rollers or hydro extractors which give an embossing liquid pick up of percent on the weight of fabric. Thus, the liquid to fabric ratio is 1 to 1.

An embossed design is then applied to the fabric which is pressed for approximately six minutes.

Excess chemicals are washed from the fabric using a detergent, soap/alkali mixture or solvent.

EXAMPLE II For embossing bleached Cashmere fabric (bleached for example using hydrogen peroxide) which is free from spinning oils: The fabric is wetted out in a bath containing liquid at a temperature of about 35C., the liquid comprising:

Sodium Metabisulphite Hercosett 57" l gramme/litre 5 c.c./litrc.

EXAMPLE III For embossing lambswool shrink-resisted fabric which contains spinning oils and aids: The fabric is wetted out in a bath containing liquid at a temperature of about 30C., the liquid comprising:

Sodium Sulphite Sodium Tctraboratc Hercosett 57" 5 grammes/litre 5 grammes/litre l5 Lien/litre The quantity of liquid in the bath is such that the ratio ofliquid is about 15 to 1. After immersing in the liquid for two minutes, the fabric is placed in a hydro extractor until the embossing liquid pick up is percent on the weight of the fabric. Thus the liquid to fabric ratio is 1.2 to 1 The fabric is then treated in similar manner to Examplesl and II. the fabric pressing time being ten minutes.

EXAMPLE lV For setting a fabric which is free from spinning oils:

The same liquid is used as in Example I. the liquid to fabric ratio in the immersion bath. being to l.

The fabric is immersed for three minutes and then placed in a hydro extractor to give a setting liquid pick up of 100 percent on the weight of the fabric. i.e. liquid to fabric ratio of l to 1 weight for weight.

The fabric is then placed on a smooth flat board and pressed for ten minutes.

Excess chemical is removed using detergent or a soap/alkali mixture or a solvent.

EXAMPLE V For shrink-resisting fabric treatment by the immediate contact technique: Paper is coated with a liquid of a polyamide type resin (HERCOSETT 57). containing Borax and Sodium Metabisulphite dispersed to give a homogeneous mixture.

This paper. when placed in contact with wet animal fibred fabrics to give a liquid to fabric ratio of between 0.5 to l and 3 to I. will, under the influence of heat (steam) and pressure i.e. 3/100 lbs. per square inch for up to minutes. allow the stabilization of the woven or knitted fabrics to be such that the claim Machine Washable" can be made.

The fabric is then given normal wash off with water or water containing detergency.

We claim:

1. A method of treating a wool textile material consisting of fibre or fabric which comprises:

immersing said material in a bath of a liquid medium at a temperature of between and 45C.. said liquid medium comprising a treating agent consisting of member of the group consisting of a polyamide epichlorhydrin resin or a prepolymer of an aliphatic polyurethane containing free isocyanate groups;

adjusting the quantity of said liquid medium on said material until the ratio of liquid medium to textile material is between 0.5 to L0 and 3.0 to 1.0 weight for weight; pressing the textile material for not more than thirty minutes at a pressure of between 3 pounds per square inch and pounds per square inch;

washing off any excess medium from said textile material; and

recovering the treated textile material as the product of the process.

2. the method of claim 1 wherein the textile material is fabric.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the textile material is fibre.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the treating agent is polyamide epichlorhydrin resin.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the treating agent is a prepolymer of an aliphatic polyurethane containing free isocyanate groups.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the treating agent is polyamide epichlorhydrin resin.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the treating agent is a prepolymer of an aliphatic polyurethane containing free isocyanate groups. 

1. A METHOD OF TREATING A WOOL TEXTILE MATERIAL CONSISTING OF FIBRE O FIBRIC WHICH COMPRISES, IMMERSING SAID MATERIAL IN A BATH OF A LIQUID MEDIUM AT A TEMPRATURE OF BETWEEN 25* AND 45*C., SAID LIQUID MEDIUM COMPRISING A TREATING AGENT CONSISTING OF MEMBER OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A POLYAMIDE EPICHLORHYDRIM RESIN OR A PREPOLYMER OF AN ALIPHATIC POLYERETHANE CONTAINING FREE ISOCYANATE GROUPS, ADJUSTING THE QANTITY OF SAID LIQUID MEDIUM ON SAID MATERIAL UNTL THE RATIO OF LIQUID MEDIUM TO TEXTILE MATERIAL IS BETWEEN 3.5 TO 1.0 AND 3.0 TO 1.0 WEIGHT FORWEIGHT, PRESSING THE TEXTILE MATERIAL FOR NOT MORE THAN THIRY MINUTES AT A PRESSURE BETWEEN 3 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH AND 100 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH, WASHING OFF ANY EXCESS MEDIUM FROM SAID TEXTILE MATERIAL, AND RECOVERING THE TREATED TEXTILE MATERIAL AS THE PRODUCT OF THE PROCESS.
 2. the method of claim 1 wherein the textile material is fabric.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the textile material is fibre.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the treating agent is polyamide epichlorhydrin resin.
 5. The method of claim 2 wherein the treating agent is a prepolymer of an aliphatic polyurethane containing free isocyanate groups.
 6. The method of claim 3 wherein the treating agent is polyamide epichlorhydrin resin.
 7. The method of claim 3 wherein the treating agent is a prepolymer of an aliphatic polyurethane containing free isocyanate groups. 